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Updated: June 4, 2025
At the clatter the King looked around, and the tone in which he spoke his friend's name had in it more of passion than all the lover's phrases he had ever paid Elfgiva's ears. At the same time, he made a sharp sign to the two sentinels. "Get back to your posts," he said. Hesitating they saluted and unwilling they wheeled, while one spoke bluntly over his shoulder.
As they neared the arched gateway, red with the cloaks of the royal guards, it seemed to Randalin that an icy hand had closed about her heart. The blood was ebbing from Elfgiva's face, and it could be seen that she was forced to keep moistening her lips with her tongue.
"It would not be unadvisable for you to whet your wits as well," Frode's daughter muttered scornfully, and somewhat rashly, since Elfgiva's wits had been sharp enough to guess the significance of her hand-maiden's interview with the young English noble, and the knowledge had given her a weapon which she was skilful in using.
Perhaps it was to follow the King's suggestion, perhaps it was only to vent his reproaches; but Randalin did not wait to see. Before she knew how she got there, she was at Elfgiva's side, clutching at her mantle. "Lady! You promised me " she cried. And for all her chiming laughter, Elfgiva's silken arm was stretched out like a bar. "No further, good Giant!" she said gayly.
The guard discreetly held his tongue, but he likewise held his position. Elfgiva's bosom was beginning to heave in hysterical menace when a second soldier, lounging against the wall behind the first, ventured a soothing word. "For your own safety, noble one, ask it not.
Her heart beat hopefully as the jar sounded nearer and nearer. When the snorting nostrils seemed at the Black One's very flank, at the risk of her neck she turned her head. Looking, she understood why a steed had been given her which should carry her out of Elfgiva's reach, for the horseman who was even now stretching his gauntleted hand toward her rein was the King himself.
Her attention wandered as a couple of tipsy soldiers elbowed themselves between the guards only to catch a nearer glimpse of her face, after which they allowed themselves to be thrust back, shouting drunken toasts to her beauty. "Is it your wish that I help you to lower your hood, lady?" the Danish girl made offer. Elfgiva's half smile deepened into a laugh. "Not so, not so!" she said. "What!
"Why do you say that?" "Because if Canute could see you as you look now, with your cheeks a-flower and that ermine, like snow, upon your hair, there is nothing in the world he could refuse you." Elfgiva's mouth curved bewitchingly. "You speak as though you had jewels to sell. What fine manners they have, these London merchants! Tell me, Candida, Leonorine, does she speak the truth?
With her face hidden, she stood there praying it until it rang so strong through her soul that it seemed to her the Power could not but hear. And after He had heard, it would be so simple, if He was as helpful as Sebert said. There was new resolution in her movements when at last she left the window and went toward Elfgiva's bower.
And I remember only that her bearing was noble and her countenance most handsome, such as I had never seen before, nor did I think that there could be any woman so queenlike." Because he did not choose to say more, or because some wrinkle in Elfgiva's satin brow warned him off, he turned hastily to another topic. "Foolishly do we linger, when we have none too much time to get to covert.
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